Conditions for .com.au domain names

In order to apply for a .com.au domain name, 1 of the following 4 Allocation Criteria will need to be met :

Criteria 1. An Exact Match

The .com.au application can be an exact match with one or more words in the registrant's organisation name or trademark, in the same order as they appear in the name.
Note: Commercial identifiers such as “Pty Ltd” or “Co”, other identifiers such as “com.au”, words such as “a”, “the” & “and” do not need to be included. There is also no distinction made between singular and plural.
Example : The Wheel Co Ltd could have wheel.com.au, or wheels.com.au

OR

Criteria 2. An Abbreviation

The .com.au application can be an abbreviation of the registrant’s organisation name or trademark. An "abbreviation" is where the requested domain name is a shortened version of the name of the applicant. The abbreviation must be a close approximation of and have a related meaning to the complete organisation name and can contain letters or numbers that do not appear in the name but not additional words.
Examples : The Bayside Computer Company could have comp.com.au, Turner and Turner could have turners.com.au or tandt.com.au

OR

Criteria 3. An Acronym

The com.au application is an acronym of the registrant’s organisation full name or trademark.
Example : Great Deal Computers Pty Ltd could have gdc.com.au

OR

Criteria 4. The New ‘Close and Substantial Connection’ Rule

Under the new policy, a .com.au domain name can be registered if there is a ‘close and substantial connection’ to the applicant’s business in 1 of the following 6 areas :

1. Product
   The .com.au application refers to a product or service that the registrant manufactures or sells.
   Example : ABC Groceries could have groceries.com.au
2. Service
   The .com.au application refers to the name of a service that the registrant provides.
   Example : City Party Foods could have catering.com.au.
3. Event
   The .com.au application refers to an event that the registrant organises or sponsors.
   Example : If the Great Promotion Company organises fashion shows, they could have fashionshow.com.au.
4. Activity
   The .com.au application refers to the name of an activity for which the registrant provides teaching or training services.
   Example : The ABC Hotel Training Company could have hospitality.com.au
5. Venue
   The .com.au application refers to the name of a venue that is operated by the registrant.
   Example : ABC Hotels could have latenightdisco.com.au, if ‘Late Night Disco’ is the name of their venue.
6. Profession
   The .com.au application is the name of a profession that is practiced by the registrant.
   Example : Dr George Jones could have doctor.com.au or doctorjones.com.au

What has not Changed

• A registrant still needs to be an
  Australian registered company or trading under a
  registered business name in any Australian State or Territory,
  or have an ABN.

Tuesday, 26th May 2015
Newcastle, Australia